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Thursday 23 January 2003

The World Today is a comprehensive current affairs program which backgrounds, analyses, interprets and encourages debate on events and issues of interest and importance to all Australians. Below is the program summary with links to transcripts and audio (if available).

Gulf-bound HMAS Kanimbla farewelled

As the voice of protest drifted across the water, several hundred relatives and friends, top military commanders, the Prime Minister and the Opposition leader said goodbye to the crew of the HMAS Kanimbla at the start of its controversial voyage to the Persian Gulf.

Mixed emotions as sailors depart

The departure of HMAS Kanimbla was an occasion for mixed emotions, with many of the tearful relatives expressing support for their loved ones in the face of their own objections to the Government's early action without a UN request.

Howard, Crean, Cosgrove farewell sailors

Before those aboard the Kanimbla left this morning, they were given a formal farewell by Australia's political leaders, including Prime Minister John Howard senior defence heads including the Chief of the Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, and the Opposition leader, Simon Crean.

ALP supports troops, criticises deployment

The Opposition argues that the decision to send the troops now is wrong and a significant error of political judgement by John Howard, and now there is talk of the early development of a significant, broad-based protest movement.

Howard aware of leadership criticism over Iraq

The Prime Minister was only too aware of the strong criticism against his leadership on the Iraq issue, but has been bolstered by his chat with US President George W Bush who, he says, rang him yesterday about Iraq.

Indonesian fallout likely after troop deployment: Professor

Australia criticised by US for UN human rights vote

From Washington today came rare criticism of the Howard Government from the Bush administration, with the US State Department taking on countries, including Australia, that abstained during the vote this week which saw Libya appointed to the chair of the UN Human Rights Commission.

Helen Kroger steps forward as Victoria Liberal presidential candidate

The Victorian Liberal Party has been considered a party in crisis after its devastating State Election defeat in November, and the recriminations and wrangling which began after the poll will continue for at least the next couple of months until a new State Party president is chosen.

Land clearing continues in Queensland

A farming lobby group says Federal and State Governments have to provide significant financial assistance to reduce the rate of tree clearing in Queensland, after figures released yesterday showed that more than one million hectares of bushland bulldozed from 1999 to 2001.

Youth suicide, risk taking killing kids

A report tabled in NSW Parliament today reveals that suicide and risk taking accounted for almost a quarter of the deaths of young people over a five-year period, and it appears the figures are fairly typical of the trends in other States and Territories.